Free tools · Any workplace
5x5 risk matrix template. Score it, then reduce it.
Rate a hazard on a 5×5 matrix as it is now, then again with your controls in place. See the band, what it means, and how far the controls bring it down.
- Click to score
- Before and after controls
- Nothing leaves your browser
How it works1Rate it as it is2Rate it with controls3See the difference
- 1Rate it as it isClick the square for how likely harm is, against how bad it would be.
- 2Rate it with controlsClick again for the same hazard once your controls are in place.
- 3See the differenceThe band, what it means, and the reduction. Copy a summary for the assessment.
The 5x5 risk matrix
Every score at a glance: likelihood times severity, from 1 to 25. Prefer paper? Download a blank 5x5 risk assessment template (PDF): a form for your hazards, the matrix and the bands, on two A4 pages.
| Severity | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Almost certain | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| 4 Likely | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 Possible | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 Unlikely | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 1 Rare | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The rules it follows
- Risk is the likelihood that a hazard causes harm, combined with how severe the harm would be.
- HSE does not prescribe a matrix. The labels and bands here are a common convention; set your own to match your policy.
- The legal test is whether risks are reduced so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Controls work best in order: eliminate, substitute, engineering, administrative, and protective equipment last.
Checked September 2026 against: HSE: managing risks and risk assessment at work · Our guide: what is a risk assessment. A guide, not legal advice.
What is a risk assessment?
Who must carry one out under UK law, the steps HSE sets out, the hierarchy of control and what suitable and sufficient means.
Read the guideFrequently asked questions
Does HSE require a risk matrix?
No. HSE sets out steps for assessing risk, not a scoring method. A matrix is a common way to prioritise, and you can set your own labels and bands.
What do the bands mean here?
Low is 1 to 4, medium 5 to 9, high 10 to 14 and very high 15 to 25. These are a widely used convention, not a legal standard.
What is the best way to reduce a risk?
Work down the hierarchy of control: remove the hazard, substitute something less hazardous, use engineering controls, then administrative controls, and personal protective equipment last.
Is anything I enter saved?
Nothing is uploaded, sent or stored: your ratings are worked out in this browser and gone when you leave the page. If you accept analytics cookies, we count when the tool is used and a PDF is made, never your ratings.
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